Combine harvester construction



3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Aug. 8, -1940 Aug. 5, 1941. A. E. BosTlc' COMBINE HARVESTER CONSTRUCTION Aug. 5, 1941. A, E BGS-nc 2,251,655

COMBINE HARVESTER CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 8, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Aug. 5, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBTNE HARVESTER CONSTRUCTION Arthur E. Bostic, Pipestone, Minn.

Application August 8, 1940, Serial No. 351,872

13 Claims.

This invention. relates to harvesters or combines for grain and the like, and particuarly to a harvester including a thresher unit wherein provision is made for maintaining said unit in normal or horizontal position of the threshing cylinders, carriers, grain pans and grates regardless of side hills or ground irregularities over which the machine is drawn or propelled.

The present combines and harvesters which both cut and pick up grain from the ground and thereafter thresh the same, have proved eiicient for operation on substantially level elds. The present combines, however, do not function in .a highly efficient manner when passing over side hills or ground irregularities due to the fact that the working parts such as the conveyors, scraping cylinders, rasp bars and beaters are tilted from their normal position and the distribution and feeding of grain to these parts is not uniform. Choking often occurs and inefficient action of vthe cylinder and other working parts takes place.

It is an object of my invention to provide a harvester for grain and the like which may be drawn or otherwise propelled to either cut or -pick up cut grain from the ground and to convey such grain to a thresher unit and thresh the same, separating the grain from the husks and stalks with provision for causing the thresher unit as well as the conveyor to be maintained during travel of the machine over irregular ground, side hills, inclinations and declinations at 4a uniform or normal operating position, with the important working elements disposed in the position assumed in standard types of harvesters and combines when the machine is operating on level ground.

More specifically it is an object to provide a harvester or combine for grain and the like -mounted on a wheeled frame and having a thresher unit supported on said frame in such manner that it is disposed in normal operating position regardless of irregularities and inclines in the ground over which said wheeled frame travels.

It is a further object to provide a combine or harvester of the class described in' which the entire thresher unit as well as the principal carrier for conveying grain to` the thresher unit is mounted by suspension from the wheeled frame to cause the unit to be maintained during travel of the machine over irregular ground, side hills and inclines in the normal operative position, thereby assuring uniform `feeding of the grain .to the beater, threshing cylinder, strippers, etc.

A still further object is the provision in adevice of the class described `of adjustment means associated with the support or suspension of the thresher unit and housing to permit proper balancing of the unit for varying conditions and for proper setting of suspension means.

These and other objects `and advantages will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the views, and in which:

Fig. l is a top plan View of an embodiment of my invention applied to `a combine of a smaller vor lighter type;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken approximately on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view on a somewhat larger scale showing the adjustment means for the support or suspension of the thresher housing;

Fig. 5 is a detail cross section taken on the line '5-5' of Fig. 4; v

Fig. 6 is a detail vertical section showing the connection of the sides of the main grain conveyor with the front of the thresher housing;

Fig. 7 is across section taken on Ythe line l-l of Fig. 6, land Fig. 8 is a detail cross section taken on the line 8 8 of Fig. 1.

In the drawings an embodiment of my invention is shown applied to a harvester or combine for cutting the grain or for picking up cut grain from a windrow .and for collecting and delivering the grain cut or picked up to a thresher unit, and for thereafter efciently threshing the grain and delivering the clean grain .to a dumping bin mounted on the device.

The combine illustrated vhas a main 4wheeled. frame comprising a pair of spaced elongated frame beams ll offset -downwardly at their for- Ward ends to support and accommodate the cutter mechanism and .the conveyors which receive the cut grain. This frame is Vmounted on a pair of widely spaced tired wheels I2, a heavy axle I3 connecting said wheels and -directly supporting frame members H. The frame members ll are connected together and reenforced -by a series of transverse beams I4, l5 and I 6, respectively.

The thresher unit, indicated Ias an entirety by the letter T, is of conventional construction for the Amost part, having mounted within its housing -I 1 the usual beater I-8 at the forward end thereof for cooperating with the rear conveyor to feed the cut stalks or heads intothe conventional cylinder I9. The second beater 20 is disposed rearwardlyof cylinder 3119 and the yother 4Couven-- tional parts of the thresher such as the grate Ilia, straw racks 2|, return pans 22, cleaning sieve 23, grain pan 24, are mounted within thresher housing l1 and associated and designed for cooperative Working action in the conventional manner. The usual blower 25 is provided cooperatively associated with the other working parts and causing the chaff, straw and refuse to be discharged through an opening 25 at the rear and bottom of housing il.

At the left-hand side of the thresher unit a clean grain elevator 21 is mounted receiving at its lower end the clean grain from a screw conveyor 28 and delivering through a spout 29 to the open upper end of a quick dumping bin 38, which dumping bin is supported from the lefthand side of the frame by upstanding posts 3| and 32. At the right-hand side of the machine a slightly inclined elevator 33 is mounted being rigidly connected with the vertical right side of thresher housing I1 and having at its upper end a downwardly inclined delivery spout 33a which returns a part of the grain which is not completely cleaned in the customary manner to the upper end of the second conveyor just forward of the first beater I8.

With my improved construction the entire thresher unit is mounted and related with the wheeled frame in such manner that it will always be maintained in normal operative position with most of the working elements disposed horizontally regardless of the irregularities in the ground over which the machine is propelled. To this end I provide a cradle for the thresher unit comprising, as shown, a yoke designated as an entirety by the letter Y having spaced horizontal bar portions 34 which extend above the top of thresher housing |1 and having downwardly and rearwardly extending arms 34a. disposed against the vertical side walls of thresher housing |1 and connected together by a transverse yoke bar 34h which underlies and supports the rear portion of said housing. The horizontal bars 34 of the cradle are extended forwardly some distance beyond the forward end of housing I1 and form the offset bar ends 34o which are joined together by a transverse supporting plate 35 constituting a support for the motor preferably in the form of a small internal combustion engine 36.

against the forward ends of the side walls of thresher housing I1 and its horizontal portion underlying and supporting the forward end of said housing. connected by bolts or other suitable means 31a with the intermediate horizontal portion of the first mentioned yoke.

The said cradle with the entire thresher unit and housing mounted therein is suspended from the main frame of the machine by means of an upstanding U-shaped frame comprising heavy, braced post members 38, each secured at its lower end to one of the horizontal chassis frame members and braced by a diagonal brace 39. The upper ends of the two posts 38 are secured together by a heavy transverse supporting beam 40 from which the cradle is directly suspended.

For adjustable suspension of the said cradle I provide a heavy horizontal plate 4| rigidly connected with the two horizontal yoke bars 34 of the cradle by means of a pair of strong transverse bars 42. A heavy supporting plate 43 underlies and supports plate 4| and through plate 4| and its connected parts, the cradle and thresh- The said cradle also includes a U- I shaped yoke 31 having its vertical arms disposed The upper ends of yoke 31 are er unit. Supporting plate 43 has a central ball receiving socket 43a. for reception of a semi-ball 44a which is rigidly connected or integrally formed with the depending supporting post 44 which is rigidly affixed at its upper end to the approximate center of the supporting beam 4D.

For adjustment of the point of suspension of the cradle and thresher unit the upper plate 4| is recessed rectangularly in its central portion 4m, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the ball and socket supporting connection being accommodated in the recessed portion and provision being made to shift plate 43 relatively to plate 4|, both longitudinally and transversely of the machine. To facilitate such shifting and adjustment plates 4| and smaller plate 43 are provided with downturned flanges 4|b and 43h, and a horizontal slot 4 Ic is formed in the rear flange 4|b and a smaller horizontal slot 4|cl is formed in one of the side flanges 4|b. A crank 46 is slidably journalled in the side flange 4 la and carries a screw 46a which has threaded engagement with the downturned flange 43h of plate 43 to provide transverse shifting of plate 43. Likewise a second crank 41 is slidably journalled in the slotted rear flange 4|b having its inner end provide-d with a screw 41a which threadedly engages the rear ange of plate 43. Crank 41 causes shifting of plate 43 longitudinally of the machine. To assist in guiding plates 4| and 43 and the shifting of plate 43, cross slots are provided at the appropriate portions of said plates and said plates are further connected by the nutted bolts 48 working in said cross slots. The adjustment means described, including the plates 4| and 43 and the associated adjustment mechanism, permit the cradle and supported thresher unit to be balanced as desired within certain limits, which adjustment is, of course, made when the machine is standing on level ground. Adjustment of the point of suspension longitudinally of the machine is sometimes desirable to cause a slight tilting on a transverse axis of the thresher unit for cutting heavier or lighter grain. The lateral or transverse adjustment is for balance to insure uniform distribution and treatment of the stalks and grain delivered to the thresher.

The suspension mounting for the thresher unit and its cradle includes stabilizers 49 and 50 eX- tending from the heavy supporting beam 40 to points arranged in the corners of a rectangle on upper plate 4|. These stabilizers employ piston rods and cylinders and may utilize either hydraulic or spring resistant principles. They check and stabilize the swinging movements both on an axis longitudinal of the machine and transversely thereto as the machine is propelled over side hills or inclines or declines. To further cushion the swinging or impact of the thresher casing and its cra-dle, resilient cushions 5| are provided beneath the transverse yoke bar 34h which underlies the rear portion of the thresher housing, and additional resilient cushions 52 are mounted on the inner sides of the heavy frame beams I| medially of the front and rear of the thresher housing.

The motor 36 and heavy supporting plate 35 act as counter-balancing means for the weight of the thresher unit, being so positioned on the forward projecting ends 34c of yoke Y and of such weight as to normally maintain the thresher housing in horizontal position. The machine, as shown, has a side frame comprising forwardly extending members 53 and 54 and cross bar 55 with an angularly bent forward bar 56,

and yon the forward portion of the frame so formed is mounted a transmission mechanism l to receive the power take-off shaft 58 from a -tractor or propelling vehicle. A hitch 59 is rigidly secured with the forward end of the said side frame. Adjustable cutter mechanism Sil is mounted at the front of the machine extending not only across the full width of the receiving conveyor 6l, but extending beyond the same for a distance somewhat greater than the width of conveyor Si. A pan 62 supported from the forward end of the chassis frame at the righthand side receives from the outwardly extending portion of the cutter mechanism and has mounted therein a large screw conveyor E3 which is driven to deliver the grainreceived in pan ft2 laterally of the machine to the receiving conveyor Si. Conveyor 6| is of the endless apron type, the apron Gla being mounted between vertical side members Elb forming the frame. The side members 6 Ib are secured together and reenforced suitably and, as shown, a track Gi of inverted channel construction secures the rear and lower portions of the conveyor sides, said track being supported on a roller Gila, which roller is mounted on a cross plate l5 traversing the lower portion of the chassis frame members Ii. A transverse plate 6 lc underlies the forward portion of the conveyor frame and is swivelly connected, as shown in Fig, 8, by a pin 65 with the beam I6 of the conveyor frame. Thus the first conveyor 6! may swivel slightly on a vertical axis and has some limited rocking movement transversely of the frame.

A second conveyor, indicated as an entirety by the number 6l, is disposed rearwardly of and receives from the rear end of the conveyor Si, and comprises a conventional endless apron da trained over suitable rollers and mounted within a frame having a vertical wall l'b. lThe forward 1;

ends of said walis Ell) projcct'beyond and overlap the rear ends of vertical walls @ib of conveyor 6l, these parts forming a loose connection between the walls of the respective conveyors. "Ihe walls Elo of conveyor E'l have hinged to the rear ends thereof on vertical hinge elements ii'i'c vertical attachment plates 69 which in turn are connected, as shown in Figs. 2, 6 and 7, with the vertical wails and forward portion of the thresher housing, permitting the conveyor El to bodily f shift laterally of the machine as well as to permit relative swinging movement of the thresher housing to conveyor 6i'. To this end vertical attachment yplates E9 are pivoted by loose rivets or pins 89a at their rear and lower corners to vertical attachment links lli, the upper ends l'a of which are pivoted by bolts H to upstanding ears i2 provided above and at the Vertical wall sides of the thresher housing. Slots are formed through overlapping portions of plate Eig and the vertical walls of thresher housing Il to accommodate the conveyor shafts and the beater shaft later to be described. At the bottom of conveyor @l an inverted transverse channel track 6ft is formed having a roller i3 mounted therein for engaging the wide transverse supporting plate l5.

In the embodiment shown the cutter mechanism at the forward end of the machine has the usual cutter bar 'i5 connected by a pitman 'i6 with an eccentric il mounted on the short driven shaft 'i8 which is in the transmission mechanism 51. The cutter bar l5 carries the usual cutters a. working between guards '19 of the cutter mechanism. The endless apron of the conveyor 6I and also the screw conveyor 163 'are driven 7-5 from the flexible shaft take-olf indicated as an entirety by the numeral 80, which is driven by bevel gears a from the shaft 13 in the transmission mechanism. The flexible shaft take-off includes a central shaft section b mounted in lsuitable bearings provided in the walls Sib of the conveyor frame and a sprocket 8| drives through the medium of an endless chain 82 to the rear roller shaft 83 of conveyor El. The right-hand end of the flexible shaft take-oir 8i! is connected by an endless chain 843 with idler sprocket 85, and the shaft 63a of auger conveyor 63 is driven by meshing with the outer side of said chain 84 to reverse the direction of the auger.

The flexible shaft take-off, as shown, includes a sleeve section s telescoped with shaft sections between the transmission mechanism 51 and the sprocket Si, and a second sleeve section 807i telescoped with shaft sections between conveyor 6l and the chain drive for auger conveyor 63, the said telescopic connections making provision for ylimited bodily swinging movement of conveyor 6l on the axis of the bolt 65.

A rigid horizontal arm is secured at its rear end to the beam iii) which suspends the thresher mechanism and extends forwardly having its forward end slotted to receive an upstanding post 88 rigidly secured to the top of the motor support 35. The slotted bar acts as a keeper to confine the post 83 and thereby prevent bodily oscillation of the thresher unit on a vertical anis, that is, the axis of the supporting pin 4d.

The motor Si being mounted lon the cradle for the thresher mechanism, has its driving shaft maintained at all times in predetermined relationship with the various shafts of the working parts of the thresher mechanism. Driving connections are shown in Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings forthe various working parts of the thresher including the beater, cylinder, second beater, fan, shakers and elevators, but it is thought unnecessary to describe in detail the specific driving connections as they are more or less conventional for the type of harvesters having an independent motor mounted on the machine for driving the thresher mechanism, l

'ft will be noted, however (see Fig. 2, dotted lines), that the endless apron of conveyor 6'! is driven by engagement of a tria-ngularly arranged chain ai trained over the shaft of the rubbing cylinder id and receiving its power therefrom and driving also the rst beater. The sprocket of the rear roller for the apron fila is meshed with the cuter side of the triangularly arranged chain 8l to reverse the direction of the chain drive.

In operation the harvester, as shown not Vprovided with the usual reel for cutting grain, is propelled over the ground drawn by a tractor from the hitch 5S and the power take-off from the tractor driving the cutter mechanism, rst conveyor and the screw conveyor at the righthand side of the first conveyor. The rest of the mechanism, including the entire thresher unit as well as the second conveyor, is driven from the motor 36.

As the machine passes up an incline, the entire thresher unit cradled in yokes Y and 3l, remains in normal or substantially horizontal position balanced due to its suspension from the heavy suspension pin lid. Likewise, if the machine is drawn over a side hill or over any irregularities, the thresher unit will always remain in the nor'- Vmal position with its essential working elements remaining with their axes horizontally disposed. Likewise, in the travelo'f the machine-over irregular ground the second conveyor frame will shift relatively to the Wheeled frame of the combine to prevent tilting of the apron which would cause settling of the grain being conveyed toone side thereof. The shifting movement of the conveyor l is compound, limited rocking movement on a longitudinal axis being permitted as well as slight swinging movement and shifting of the side walls of the conveyor and also permitting some longitudinal body movement of the conveyor frame relatively to the connected forward portion of the thresher housing. The latter shifting is permitted through the connection of the parts 69, and l2. as shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

In the shifting movements of the thresher mechanism land second conveyor, the forward conveyor 6| may shift slightly on a lateral rocking movement and on a slight swivel movement on the axis of pin 65 (see Fig. 8).

In the balancing or relative swinging and shifting of the parts, rapid swinging of the thresher unit is checked by means of the stabilizers 49 and 5B, and impact against the heavy beams Il of the frame and against the rear cross member of the frame is cushioned by resilient elements 5l and 52.

The adjustment of the suspension support means through cranks 46 and 41 permit the device to be balanced as desired both laterally and longitudinally of the frame. When cutting heavier grain or where the grain is taller and thicker, it is usually desirable to adjust crank 41 so that the thresher unit is tilted baickwardly slightly beyond the normal horizontal position.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided a comparatively simple but highly efhcient combine or harvester construction, particularly in the provision of supporting means for the entire thresher unit and also the conveyors to enable those parts to retain their normal, efficiently operating positions during travel of the machine over side hills, inclines or irregularities. As ya result of my improved mechanism the grain, stalks and heads are delivered substantially uniformly over the conveyors to the beater, scraping cylinder and other parts of the thresher mechanism.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts without departing from the scope of my invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A harvester for grain and the like having in combination a wheeled frame adapted to be propelled over a field, a thresher unit, a carrier for conveying grain from adjacent to the ground to said thresher unit, means for supporting said unit from said frame, said means comprising a single connection member attached to the top of said unit permissive of universal swinging movement of said unit relative to said frame, said unit being balanced to be maintained in normal operative position regardless of irregularities in the ground over which said wheeled frame travels, and means for! restraining said unit against swinging movement on a vertical axis.

2. A harvester for grain and the like having in combination a wheeled frame adapted to be propelled over a field, a thresher unit, a carrier for conveying grain from adjacent the ground to said thresher unit, means for supporting said carrier with freedom for rocking movement of said carrier on an axis longitudinally disposed of said frame, means for supporting said thresher unit with freedom for universal swinging movement of said unit relatively to said frame, said unit being balanced relative to said supporting means whereby it will be maintained in normal operating position regardless of irregularities in the ground over which said Wheeled frame travels, said carrier having a connection adjacent its delivery end with said unit to cause said carrier to swing in unison with said unit on said longitudinal axis.

3. A harvester for grain and the like having in combination a Wheeled frame adapted to be propelled over a field, a thresher unit having a housing wherein the working parts are mounted, an overhanging support mounted on said frame, and a ball and socket connection member for supporting said housing from said support, said unit and housing :being balanced with reference to l said suspension means, said suspension means being permissive of universal swinging movement by gravity of said housing when said wheeled frame travels over irregular ground and means interposed between said housing and said frame for restraining oscillation of said housing on a vertical axis relative to said frame.

4. The structure set forth in claim 3, and stabilizing elements for yieldably resisting swinging movement of said unit in all directions.

5. A harvester for grain and the like having in combination a wheeled frame adapted to be propelled over a eld, a thresher unit having a housing wherein the Working parts are mounted, an overhanging support mounted on said frame, a vertical universal suspension means for supporting said housing from said support, said unit and housing being balanced with reference to said suspension member, said suspension means being permissive of universal swinging movement by gravity of said housing when said wheeled frame travels over irregular ground, and means for preventing oscillation of said housing on a vertical axis.

6. A harvester for grain and the like having in combination a wheeled frame adapted to be propelled over a field, a thresher unit having a housing wherein the working parts are mounted, a support for mounting said thresher unit on said frame with freedom of said unit to swing on a horizontal axis disposed longitudinally of said frame and also on a horizontal axis disposed transversely of said frame, a carrier for conveying grain to said thresher unit, said carrier having a loose connection with the front of said thresher housing, and a support for mounting said conveyor on said frame with limited freedom for said conveyor to rock on an axis longitudinally of said frame and to also swing on a vertical axis, said -connection between said carrier and said housing causing said carrier to swing bodily in unison with said thresher unit.

'7. A harvester for grain and the like having in combination a wheeled frame adapted to be propelled over a field, a thresher unit, a support for mounting said thresher unit on said frame with freedom of said unit to swing universally by gravity, counter-balancing means including a motor associated with said thresher unit for balancing said unit in normal operating position, a conveyor for delivering grain to said thresher unit, means for mounting said conveyor for limited ibodily swinging movement on a vertical axis, means for driving said conveyor with freedom for said limited swinging movement, driving connections between said motor and the working parts of said thresher unit, and said conveyor having a connection adjacent its delivery end with said thresher unit whereby said conveyor will bodily swing in unison with said unit.

8. A harvester for grain and the like having in combination a wheeled frame adapted to be propelled over a field, a thresher unit having a housing wherein the working parts are mounted, an overhanging support mounted on said frame, adjustable suspension means for supporting said housing from said support, said suspension means including a plate secured to the top of said hous ing, a second plate shiftable longitudinally o'i said frame and shiftable also transversely of said frame, and a suspension member having universal connection with said last mentioned plate.

9. The structure set forth in .claim 8, and means for readily shifting said second mentioned plate in said directions specified.

10. A harvester for grain and the like having in combination a wheeled frame adapted to be propelled over a field, a thresher unit having a housing wherein the working parts are mounted, an overhanging support mounted on said frame, a thresher unit-supporting member connected with the medial portion of said overhanging support, said member having ball and socket connection with the upper portion of said housing, said thresher unit being balanced with respect to said supporting member to cause said unit to be maintained in normal operating position regardless of irregularities in the ground over which said frame travels, and means for preventing oscillation of said housing on a vertical axis relative to said frame.

11. The structure set forth in claim 10, and said connection between said thresher unit supporting member and the top of said housing including a plate shiftable longitudinally of said housing and connected with said supporting member to adjust the balance of said thresher unit within a certain range.

12. A harvester for grain and the like having in combination a wheeled frame adapted to be propelled over a iield, a thresher unit, a support for mounting said thresher unit on said frame with freedom of said unit to swing transversely of said frame and also longitudinally of said frame, said unit being balanced with reference to said support for maintenance in normal, substantially horizontal position, an endless conveyor mounted on said frame for delivering material to said thresher unit, said conveyor having frame sides connected with the forward portion of said thresher unit, means for mounting said frame sides and conveyor for limited bodily shifting movement across said frame and for rocking movement on an axis disposed longitudinally of said frame, said connection between said conveyor frame sides and said unit causing said conveyor to shift in unison with said thresher unit when said wheeled frame travels over irregular ground.

13. A harvester for grain and the like having in combination a wheeled frame adapted to be propelled over a field, a thresher unit, having a housing provided with a pair of spaced, upstanding sides, a support for mounting said thresher unit on said frame with freedom of said unit to swing transversely of said frame and also longitudinally of said frame, said unit being balanced with reference to said support for maintenance in normal, substantially horizontal position, an endless conveyor mounted on said frame for delivering material to said thresher unit, said conveyor having upstanding frame sides having portions lapping the upstanding sides of said housing and connected therewith to shift in unison with said thresher unit when said wheeled frame travels over irregular ground, and means for mounting said conveyor topermit limited bodily shifting movement thereof across said frame and rocking movement thereof on an axis disposed longitudinally of said frame.

ARTHUR E. BOS'I'IC. 

